Category: Dining Guides

Lamb and Rice – Zaytoon Kabob & Grill
Wyomissing

The opening of Zaytoon in Wyomissing brought fast-casual halal food to Berks County. And after my first bite, I immediately fell in love with their lamb platter. The meat is so tender and the white sauce is the perfect topping for it. Zaytoon is now a go-to lunch spot for me, and the lamb is my go-to meal.

Iron Bulldog Cheesesteak – Louie’s Kitchen & Bar
Flying Hills

Louie’s has found a spot among our favorite restaurants in Berks County because of its incredible burgers, but it was the Iron Bulldog cheesesteak that was the biggest hit with us. I sampled it at this year’s Wilson Iron Chef competition, then Julie and I headed to Louie’s for a date night where I couldn’t resist getting it again. It featured Louie’s cheese sauce plus a creamy mushroom rice mayo that took it from great to excellent. I wish it was on their regular menu, but in its absence, I’ll keep enjoying the caramel burger.

Rabbit Consomme – Riedenau House
Pop-Up Dinner

It’s hard to choose just one thing from the Riedenau House. The entire eight-course meal was spot-on perfect. But the one dish I can’t stop thinking about is the rabbit consomme. It featured dehydrated mushrooms, fried carrot, spring onion, fondant potatoes, and bacon lardon in a bone broth. The presentation was perfect – like a small forest in a bowl – and every bite of it was more delicious than the next.

French Dip – Rollie’s Place
Reading

Rollie’s Place is truly a cafe for everyone. It’s built with accessibility top of mind, but that doesn’t mean the food is an afterthought. The French dip sandwich was excellent. With Gruyere cheese and horseradish mayo, there were layers of flavor in every bite. It was one of the best takes on French dip that I’ve had. Oh, and the seasoned swirl fries are also excellent. 

Apple Maple Bacon Panini – Rooted & Grounded Cafe
Kenhorst

One of about a dozen new coffee shops to open in 2025, Rooted & Grounded Cafe has a simple menu with featured paninis at breakfast and lunch. The fall special, an apple maple bacon panini, was a near perfect dish. Sweet apples with even sweeter syrup to match the savory bacon and cheddar made this one of my favorites.

Farmhouse Breakfast – White Magnolia Coffee Co.
Frystown

My favorite breakfast item of the year had to be the farmhouse breakfast from White Magnolia Coffee Co. in Frystown. The bowl featured seasoned home fries, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, cheddar cheese, sauteed peppers, and sauteed onions topped with garlic aioli and chives.The garlic aioli is what really brought this dish together and set it apart from other breakfast bowls. Frystown may be out of the way, but it was definitely a great find. 

Risotto Trio – Midtown Sip. Savor. Social
West Reading

Midtown is the newest restaurant from the family behind Nonno Alby’s. The restaurant has a more refined menu and upscale vibe than their coal-fired pizza shop. On our first visit, I really enjoyed the risotto trio – three takes on risotto on one plate. My favorite of the three was the saffron and Crescenza. It’s a naturally soft cheese which I think helped make it the creamiest and thickest of the three risotto. The saffron just added a nice herbal punch to it.

Ultimate French Onion Soup – West Reading Motor Club
West Reading

What makes the French onion soup at West Reading Motor Club “ultimate?” Braised short ribs. Always delicious, the short ribs gave the dish a more savory appeal, though the whole thing was excellent: from the broth, to the cheese, to the French bread.

Pit Beef Cheesesteak – Henry P. Robeson House
Robesonia

The second cheesesteak to make the list, the pit beef cheesesteak from the Henry P. Robeson House is absolutely excellent. The pit beef adds its own unique flavor, but the Chetty Ale Sauce, their version of beer cheese, is what makes it such a great dish.

Pulled Pork Sandwich – Mountaintop Bistro
Bethel

I love good BBQ, and we found it at the Mountaintop Bistro in Bethel. Mountaintop Bistro is the on-site food truck at Bouchette Vineyards, and the speciality is smoked meats and smashburgers. It was the pulled pork that hooked me. The combination of perfectly done meat, hints of apple cider from the marinade, the whiskey BBQ sauce, and the crunchy coleslaw came together for a delicious meal. Don’t sleep on their fries, either.

Kauffman’s BBQ Restaurant
Bethel

For nearly five decades, Kauffman’s has been serving up its signature BBQ chickens at the restaurant near Bethel. Every chicken (and other platter) comes with a choice of potato with options that include baked potatoes, French fries, and potato filling. Get the filling with their signature chicken gravy on your next visit.

Deitsch Eck
Lenhartsville

The Deitsch Eck in Lenhartsville is Berks County’s traditional Pennsylvania German restaurant. While you can get a wide range of chicken, beef and pork dishes, it’s the PA Dutch specialties like scrapple and potato filling that make the Eck stand out from the competition.

Temple Family Restaurant
Temple

The Temple Family Restaurant offers a traditional diner menu with sandwiches, entrees, soups and salads. And while the menu doesn’t include a lot of Pennsylvania German options, the potato filling goes well with the roast turkey, baked ham, and chicken croquettes.

5th Street Diner
Muhlenberg

The smoked sausage and roast turkey entrees at the 5th Street Diner come served over filling, and filling can be found among the regularly offered vegetables, especially on holiday menus.

American Diner
West Reading

The American Diner in West Reading serves filling with all the classic entrees like roast beef, turkey, and sausage. Also try it with the pork and sauerkraut – a Monday special.

Americana Diner
Bechtelsville

The Americana Diner doesn’t have a menu full of Pennsylvania Dutch foods, but you will find potato filling on the regular menu. Also, traditional pork and sauerkraut is in the rotation of specials.

Bally Family Diner
Bally

Potato filling is one of the more than a dozen side options available at Bally Family Diner, located in the former Pied Piper Diner along Route 100.

Crossroads Family Restaurant
Muhlenberg Township

Potato filling is the perfect go-with for many of the menu items at Crossroads Family Restaurant. And two items on the early bird menu – smoked sausage and roast turkey – come served over potato filling.

Deluxe Diner
Shillington

Whether you’re pairing it with the meatloaf, the chicken croquettes, or one of the other dozen entrees, potato filling is a great side choice at the Deluxe Diner in Shillington.

Heidelberg Family Restaurant
Robesonia

Potato filling is always on the menu at Heidelberg Family Restaurant, including holidays like Father’s Day, Easter and Thanksgiving when the side is part of their all-you-can-eat dinner specials.

Jak’s Downtown Diner
Topton

Jak’s Downtown Diner in Topton keeps a simple menu with potato filling offered as a side (along with pickled beets, baked potatoes, and coleslaw). Get it with the meatloaf or hot roast beef sandwich.

Kempton Hotel
Kempton

Along with potato filling, the Kempton Hotel offers both pork with sauerkraut and chicken pot pie on the regular menu so there’s plenty of opportunity to get your fix of Dutch food.

Leesport Diner
Leesport

Potato filling in the go-to side for holiday meals at the Leesport Diner. While filling is an option year-round, it’s also included as part of the Diner’s Thanksgiving takeout and dine-in meals.

Main Street Pub
Bally

At the eastern end of Berks County, the Main Street Pub is one of the few places that features potato filling on their menu.

New Jerusalem Inn
Fleetwood

The New Jerusalem Inn, located just a few miles east of Fleetwood, offers potato filling as a regular side dish on the dinner menu (which also includes PA Dutch style chicken pot pie).

Perry Restaurant
Shoemakersville

Potato filling is one of the many vegetable options for your meals at Perry Restaurant in Shoemakersville.

Route 61 Diner
Muhlenberg Township

Like many Berks County diners, the Route 61 Diner in Muhlenberg Township offers potato filling as a side option and as the standard accompaniment for entrees like roast beef, chicken croquettes, and smoked sausage.

Star City Diner & Pizza Parlor
Shoemakersville

Newly opened in October 2025, the Star City Diner serves filling with its roast turkey, roast beef, and chicken croquette entrees.

Trainer’s Midway Diner
Bethel

Long a haven for travelers along I-78, Trainer’s Midway Diner offers a taste of PA Dutch to those stopping by. Potato filling is available on the regular menu, and other dishes like pot pie and lettuce with hot bacon dressing make appearances on the specials menu.

Betty’s at Shillington Farmers Market
Shillington

Betty’s is one of the longest-running local producers of specialty salads and sides. Their Shillington Farmers Market stand offers more than 30 products, including potato filling.

Smucker’s PA Dutch Farmer’s Market of Wyomissing
Wyomissing

Smucker’s Salads is the place to get potato filling at the Wyomissing Farmers Market. The stand also offers pineapple filling at Easter and other traditional PA Dutch prepared meals throughout the year.

Twilight Acres Creamery
Stouchsburg

Twilight Acres is more than a dairy store, it is also a place to get some excellent prepared meals and sides including potato filling and other Pennsylvania German foods.

Central Berks Fire Company
Centerport

The Central Berks Fire Company is taking orders for potato filling ahead of Thanksgiving. Preorders should be placed at least two weeks before the holiday. Filling is sold by the pound at $4.50 per pound. Order online, by phone, or in-person. Facebook Post

Kutztown Grange
Kutztown

In addition to potato filling, bacon dressing is also available for order from the Kutztown Grange. Get two pounds of filling for $9 or three pounds of filling for $11. Bacon dressing is available in pints and quarts for $6 and $10, respectively. Preorder by November 17; pickup November 25. Facebook Post

Pioneer Grange
Topton

The Pioneer Grange in Topton is hosting its annual potato filling sale. Orders must be placed by November 12 for pickup on November 26. The cost is $6 for 1.5 pounds and $8 for 2.5 pounds. Facebook Event Page

Zion Lutheran Church
Womelsdorf

Two-pound trays of potato filling are available for $8 from Zion Lutheran Church in Womelsdorf. Orders must be placed by Novmeber 9. Pickup is November 21. Website

Alebrije
Exeter, Muhlenberg & Wyomissing

Kids eat free every Sunday night at all three of Alebrije’s locations – Fifth Street Highway, Perkiomen Avenue and State Hill Road. Mexican-inspired options on the kids menu include tacos, grilled chicken with rice, quesadillas and enchiladas, but Alebrije also offers chicken nuggets and cheese pizza for the pickiest of eaters.

Annamarie’s on Main
Birdsboro

Wednesday is kids day at Annamarie’s on Main in Birdsboro. Kids 8 and under can get a free meal with the purchase of an adult entree on Wednesdays. Menu options for the little ones include cheeseburgers, fish sticks, mac and cheese, chicken fingers, and buttered noodles.

Austin’s Restaurant & Bar
West Lawn

Every Sunday night, Austin’s Restaurant & Bar in West Lawn offers a free child’s meal with the purchase of an entrée. Kids meals at Austin’s include grilled cheese, chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches, pizza, and cheeseburgers.

Bertie’s Inn
Exeter Township

Kids eat free on Monday nights at the New Bertie’s Inn in Exeter Township. The children’s menu is filled with kid-approved dishes like mac and cheese, chicken fingers, and mini corn dogs.

Brook’s Cafe
Douglassville

Every Saturday, kids 10 and under eat free at Brook’s Cafe in Douglassville. The dine-in offer is for all kids 10 and under. Brook’s kids menu includes Mickey Mouse pancakes, grilled cheese, and mac and cheese.

Coastal Grille
Wyomissing

The sister restaurant to Austin’s, Coastal Grille, also hosts a kids-eat-free night every Sunday. In addition to mac and cheese and chicken tenders, Coastal Grille offers signature seafood items on the kids’ menu, including grilled shrimp, popcorn shrimp, and fish and chips.

Copperz Brewing Company
Hamburg

On Sunday nights, kids eat free with any adult entree purchase at Copperz Brewing Company. The Hamburg brewery offers smashburgers, grilled cheese, chicken nugz and flatbread pizzas on its kids menu. (The physical kids menu is also an activity page with word search, tic-tac-toe and coloring).

Deluxe Diner
Shillington

Kids eat free Wednesday nights at Deluxe Diner in Shillington. (And get to pick a prize from the Treasure Chest every day). The menu includes a variety of kids meals including hot dogs, grilled cheese, soup and salad bar, pancakes and more.

Grille at Bear Creek
Macungie

Three nights a week, Tuesday through Thursday, kids eat free at the Grille at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. The deal is valid for kids 12 and under.

Heidelberg Family Restaurant
Robesonia

Robesonia’s Heidelberg Family Restaurant offers a kids eat free deal every Tuesday, one free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree.

Isaac’s Craft Kitchen & Brewery
Wyomissing

Mondays nights after 5 p.m., kids eat free at Isaac’s in Wyomissing. Free kids meals – including rainbow bread sandwiches – are available with the purchase of a salad or sandwich.

Salute Ristorante Italiano
Sinking Spring

At Salute Ristorante Italiano in Sinking Spring, kids orders of chicken Parmesan, spaghetti, fettucine alfredo and pizza typically run $10 but are free with adult entrée purchases on Sunday nights.

Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery
Wyomissing

Here’s a deal for parents with real little ones – Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery offers free meals to any child age 3 or under with the purchase of an adult buffet.

Aladdin Restaurant
West Reading

Aladdin was great before. I think it’s even better under the new owners. There are so many delicious options to choose from but I always start with baba ghanouj. The shawarma is really good, and so is the moujadara (pictured) – a meatless dish with rice and lentils.

Andy Pepper’s
Limekiln

Breakfast or lunch, Andy Pepper’s crushes it every time. Everything is fresh and loaded with flavor. At breakfast, we love the French toast or specialty pancakes. For lunch, the Hot Mozz (pictured) comes with mozzarella, spinach, tomatoes and pesto, but I add bacon for my go-to version. Julie loves the Mother Clucker (chicken salad, tomatoes, bacon and provolone). Be sure to grab some zucchini corn bread, too.

Austin’s Restaurant & Bar
West Lawn

It’s not fine dining, but it’s more than a bar. It’s a place to go for a date or kids-eat-free nights. And the food travels well for takeout. Oh, and the food is consistently good, including delicious pasta and my favorite ribs in Berks County. Austin’s Restaurant and Bar really has everything we could ask for out of a restaurant, and it’s why we keep coming back.

Eve’s Thai Kitchen
Shillington

I love to visit the Shillington Farmers Market, especially for Eve’s Thai Kitchen. It’s one of the few places where I have a “usual” order – pineapple fried rice with chicken and a Thai tea. But they have other great dishes too including the pad see ew and a rotating menu of curries and noodle dishes.

Louie’s Kitchen & Bar
Flying Hills

Our favorite restaurant in Lancaster County is Gracie’s on Main in Leola. When the owners announced they were opening Louie’s Kitchen & Bar in Flying Hills, we were ecstatic. And the restaurant hasn’t disappointed. The burgers are excellent (I recommend the Flaming Whiskey Bacon Burger with black pepper whiskey bacon, pickled jalapenos, pepper jack and whiskey sauce), and if you go for the weekend breakfast, you have to get an order of caramelized bacon.

Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette
West Reading

Classic Italian at its finest. That’s what you’ll find at Mom Chaffe’s. Even the “basic” spaghetti and meatballs is a feast at Mom Chaffe’s. It’s also the perfect ambiance for date night which is why it’s been a top choice for us since our first visit a decade ago.

Nonno Alby’s Brick Over Pizza
West Reading

Our favorite pizza place in Berks County, Nonno Alby’s does their pies brick oven style with a crispy crust and unique toppings. The namesake Nonno Alby’s pizza (pictured) is my favorite: imported San Marzano tomato, buffalo mozzarella, fresh Italian sausage, sautéed rapini, garlic and hot pepper flakes. Nonno Alby’s also has delicious burgers and wings.

Plum Creek
Bernville

Plum Creek has grown tremendously since it started as a roadside stand in 2015. We first visited in 2018, and in 2020 they expanded the building again. Since our first visit, they’ve had excellent barbecue (get the pit beef, either on a sandwich or over fries on the Bernville Special) and homemade soft serve ice cream. In 2024, they added breakfast and it’s some of the best around, too.

State Hill Craft Cocktails and Kitchen
Wyomissing

One of the newest restaurants on the list, State Hill Craft Cocktails and Kitchen has quickly become a favorite for Julie and I since we had our first date night there in late 2023. The seasonal dinner menu always features unique and delicious creations like the black truffle ravioli or salmon with riced cauliflower, sesame aioli and chili crunch.

Taqueria Comalli
West Reading

Best tacos in Berks. I first tried Taqueria Comalli at the Berks Taco Fest, before they had a place of their own in West Reading. They were great then, and they are great now. It’s hard to choose a favorite from their unique selection, but the el gallo (pictured) – with chorizo, egg, pico, queso fresco and avocado on a blue corn tortilla – and the el brulee – pulled chicken, mole poblano, double creme queso fresco and bruleed banana – are probably at the top of my list.

5th Street Diner
Temple

Not only does the 5th Street Diner glisten in the daylight with its stainless steel exterior, the red and blue neon lights shimmer at night. Though it’s no longer open 24 hours, the diner is still open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, with late-night hours on Friday and Saturday.

American Diner
West Reading

The American Diner in West Reading stands out among the many restaurants that line Penn Avenue, thanks to its steel facade with blue accents (and off-street parking). The diner is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

Americana Diner
Bechtelsville

The front entrance of the Americana Diner in Bechtelsville is reminiscent of a colorful jukebox. With a menu filled with diner favorites at reasonable prices, you’ll feel like you’re in the golden age of jukeboxes as well.

Exeter Family Restaurant
Exeter Township

Consistently voted among the best diners and family restaurants in Berks County, Exeter Family Restaurant is also the only 24-hour diner in Berks County. We love them for breakfast, but you can get a great meal any time of day (or night).

Leesport Diner
Leesport

The Leesport Diner is the newest on the list. The diner opened in 2016 with a retro look, though it was a new build. Like many classic diners, Leesport offers an all-you-can-eat soup and salad bar in addition to its breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees.

Red Plate Diner
Wernersville

The Red Plate Diner gleams along Route 422 in Wernersville. The restaurant has been open for breakfast and lunch but recently expanded to offer dinner service as well.

Route 61 Diner
Muhlenberg

As the name suggests, the Route 61 DinerRoute 61 Diner is located along PA Route 61 north of the city of Reading in Muhlenberg Township. The diner is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Airport Diner
Kutztown

Underneath the updated facade of the Airport Diner is an original 1960 Silk City Diner car. The restaurant has been expanded to include an additional dining room. Great breakfast and good burgers are among the diner’s hallmarks.

Bally Family Diner
Bally

The Bally Family Diner opened in 2024, taking over the space most recently known as the Pied Piper. The castle-like structure calls in patrons driving along Route 100 north of Boyertown.

Blue Mountain Family Restaurant
Shartlesville

The Blue Mountain Family Restaurant is located just off the Shartlesville exit of Interstate-78. The family-friendly eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to locals and all those passing through.

Brooks Cafe
Douglassville

Tucked away in a strip mall along Route 422, Brooks Cafe is is everything a diner should be. Great food. Fast service. Good prices. It’s one of our favorite breakfast spots thanks to dishes like the country fried steak and Hawaiian bread French toast.

Brooklyn Place
Reading

There aren’t many diners within the City of Reading, but Brooklyn Place fits the bill. Pancakes, French toast and omelettes anchor the breakfast menu with sandwiches and burgers at lunch. Plus the restaurant has Mexican favorites likes tacos, quesadillas and fajitas.

Chatty’s
Fleetwood

Chatty’s is one of the best-kept secrets in Berks. The restaurant is located along Route 12 near Fleetwood, but if you don’t know about it, it’s hard to find. There’s no website, no social media, just word-of-mouth about the pancakes, omelettes and other dishes that keep hungry guests streaming through the doors.

Crossroads Family Restaurant
Muhlenberg

Breakfast available all day, reasonable prices for all menu items, and a stacked dessert case: Crossroads Family Restaurant has everything you could want in a diner. They also have a liquor license which also sets them apart.

Deluxe Diner
Shillington

The Deluxe Diner stands along Lancaster Pike, offering a family-friendly atmosphere complete with free gifts for kids. The diner is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Heidelberg Family Restaurant
Robesonia

The Heidelberg Family Restaurant is one of the go-to restaurants in western Berks County. The restaurant has been a decades-long staple along Route 422 serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a full dessert case every day.

JAK’s Downtown Diner
Topton

Don’t let the location fool you. JAK’s Downtown Diner may look like a house on the outside, but the homecoming inside is 100% diner. JAK’s is open for breakfast and brunch seven days a week.

Janelle’s Diner
Bowers

Opening before 6 a.m. six days a week, Janelle’s Diner is a great spot for an early bird breakfast. Located just outside the village of Bowers, Janelle’s offers everything you could want from a diner: omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, burgers, and more.

Jukebox Cafe
Boyertown

It’s all about good food and good tunes at the Jukebox Cafe in Boyertown. The unassuming little restaurant along Reading Avenue is decked out in the finest 50s decor, including records on the wall.

Letterman’s Diner
Kutztown

Beneath the exterior of Letterman’s Diner sits one of the oldest dining cars in Berks County, a wood-frame car that is nearly 100 years old. It’s also one of the smallest, but the portions and prices make it worth the wait if the few tables are already full.

Michael’s Restaurant
Douglassville

Located near the Montgomery County border along Route 422 in Douglassville, Michael’s Restaurant serves all day in a classic diner setting.

Mount Penn Family Restaurant
Mount Penn

The Mount Penn Family Restaurant is your classic diner serving everything from steaks and seafood to sandwiches and salads. They have a robust breakfast menu, too, with pancakes, French toast, and egg dishes.

New Hamburg Diner
Hamburg

The New Hamburg Diner opened in 2024, several years after the original closed. The current iteration of the diner along State Street serves breakfast and lunch and still has the retro vibe with checkered floors, red booths and counter seating.

Penn Grille
West Lawn

The Penn Grille is a small diner attached to the Redner’s Quick Stop in West Lawn. Open for breakfast and lunch, the restaurant serves all the breakfast staples plus burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads at lunch.

Perry Restaurant
Shoemakersville

Tucked away on Bellevue Avenue, a few blocks from Route 61, Perry Restaurant has all the hallmarks of a diner menu from big breakfasts to lunch and dinner entrees.

Sunset Family Restaurant
Birdsboro

Located along Route 422 near Birdsboro, the Sunset Family Restaurant bills itself as “homestyle cooking,” offering all-day breakfast, senior discounts, and a range of lunch and dinner options.

Temple Family Restaurant
Temple

Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the Temple Family Restaurant is one of several diners in the Muhlenberg area. The restaurant boasts a large menu for all three meals, including breakfast sandwiches, egg dishes, pastas and more.

Trainer’s Midway Diner
Bethel

“Midway” between Harrisburg and Allentown, Trainer’s Midway Diner is one of the few roadside diners left along Interstate 78. Welcoming truckers and families alike, the Midway is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday.

Wyomissing Restaurant & Bakery
Wyomissing

The only diner on the list that also has a full hot buffet daily, the Wyomissing Restaurant and Bakery is known for their all-day brunch with made-to-order omelets, French toast, waffles and crepes.